storm could be much worse than irene. here in maryland and farther up the coast including in new jersey. and that's where elaine quijano is, elaine? >> reporter: well, chip, we're in the town of bayhead, new jersey, which is especially vulnerable it sits just ten feet above sea level and like other coastal communities residents here have been ordered to evacuate. >> no, man, we have to go home, state of emergency. >> reporter: the race is on along the jersey shore to leave ahead of hurricane sandy. >> i got it, i got it. >> reporter: ted smith evacuated his 81-year-old mother althea from their house in bayhead. he's worried about the water pushing through their beach front home. >> the ocean will definitely come up this far. i mean if we look at the ocean right now, i mean it's coming up pretty high. >> reporter: throughout the region people from coastal towns are jamming highways and roads to escape the storm. forecasters predict as winds push water on shore, a storm surge could cause water levels to rise six to 11 feet,